Process of steeping grain.



A. W. H. LENDERS.

PROCESS 01' STBBPING GRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1903 948,5 1 4 Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

3 SHBBT8-SHBET 1.

M V M/Mfm yyzww W A. W. H. LBNDERS.

PROGESS OF STBEPING GRAIN.

APPLICATION rILBn JUNE 20,1908.

948 ,5 1 4. Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A. W. H. LENDERS.

PROCESS OI STBEPING GRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1903.

9 48 ,5 4;. Patented Feb. 0.

FRO/w 6040/70? 7511 y of Steeping Grain, of which the following thestarch process for the making of feed.

ADOLPH W. Hi LENDERS, 0F WAUKEGAN, ILlLINOIS.

PROCESS OF STEEPING GRAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Application filed June 20, 1908. Serial No. 489,549.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AooLrH W. H. LEN- nsns, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at \Vauke an, in the county of Lake and Stateof Ilinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processesis a specification.

My invention relates to the steeping of corn or other grain in themaking of starch or in allied industries, and has for its object toprovide a new and improved method of steeping whereby the later steps inthe making of the starch are facilitated, a greater yield of feedproducts is obtained from the grain and whereb there is produced astarch of better qua ity than is the case when the methods ordinarilyfollowed at the present time are emplo ed.

In the making 0 starch it is the common ractice to steep the corn inorder to soften it preparatory to grinding. This is ordiliarily done bybringing the corn into contact with an acid Water, for example a di lutesulfurous acid, in vessels called-steep tanks. The corn is allowedtostand in these vessels with the acid water for from twentyfive to fiftyhours. Sometimes the corn and acid water are kept in agitation by asteam jet or centrifugal pump. The steep water is then drained off andthe corn sometimes washed with fresh water, the drainings from theseveral tanks being afterward evaporated so as to reclaim the mattersdissolved from the corn which are employed with materials coming fromlater stages of.

This method of steeping the cornin tanks entirel separated one fromanother, the metho universally employed up to the presout time, hasseveral disadvantageous features. It is impossible to steep the cornuniformly, as each tank has to be attended to separately. As a result,the corn comin from some of the tanks will be too bar while that comingfrom others too soft. Besides this, it has often been foundthat part ofthe corn of a single tank, due to i sufiicient circulation, will besofter or hardem than other corn comin from the same tank. This is, ofcourse, 0 jectionable when it comes to the milling step of the process.

Under the old method of steeping it has not been found possible toobtain from the sin all of the soluble material it contains. large part,probably half of such soluble materials, remains in the corn and goesthrough the various steps of the starch making process and finally oesto the sewer and is lost with the li ui from the settling tanks. Themateria thus lost in a large factory amounts to tons every day.Furthermore, because of ineffective steeping in the first stage of theprocess, the corn and starchrequire more careful washing durin the latersteps, in order that a pure gra .e of starch should be turned out.

My improved process provides for steeping the corn in a battery ofconnected steep tanks, through which the acid water 18 caused to floweither by gravity or by pumping, the steep water, when. fully saturatedwith the soluble matters of the corn, being withdrawn from the laststeep of the battery and conducted to suitable evaporating a paratus. Inorder that the process may he made continuous and uninterrupted and thatthe maximum of soluble matters may be withdrawn from the corn, I soarrange the steep tanks that they may be successively cut out of thebattery in the same order in which they are connected thereto, thecirculation of the steep water being continued through the remainingtanks, the tanks cut out being emptied, refilled and again connectedinto t e battery as others are cut out, so that the old corn, that is,the corn which has been longest in the steep, shall receiv'e'the freshacid water, while the fresh corn shall be first acted upon by the oldeststeep water. Preferably the grain in the stee 5 cut out of the system isfirst allowed rain and is then washed by the application of fresh water,the acid water drained from thercorn going back into the other tanks. Inthis wav I obtain, in the first place, perfectly uniform conditionsthroughout the Whole battery of steeps and conse quently uniformity 1nthe softness of the corn. I also obtain a very large increase in theamonnt of soluble materials reclaimed. Experience has shown that theamount of soluble substances saved can be doubled. I also improve thequality of the yield of starch and facilitate the washing of the grainand starch at later stages of the process. Furthermore, the steepingprocess itself is made perfectly continuous an regular. The continuousflow I consider an important featureof the process; obviously, howeversome of the advantages of my process would be retained even if the flowwere interrupted at intervals, instead of being throughout continuous.

One form of apparatus for carrying out the process is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. The process is not limited, however, to theparticular means shown for carrying it out. Other apparatus might bedesigned which would be equally effective.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of which arerepresented dia rammatically. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of tie same.Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 33 of Fig 1; and Fig. 4is an illustrative diagram of a typical installation showing the courseof the steep water. 7

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several fi arcsof the drawings.

A, B, C, D, E, F, are a series of steep tanks of ordinary constructionhaving cone bottoms, each of the tanks throu h discharge pipe 5controlled by valve 6 ig. 3). H extends over the tanks having openingsin the bottom thereof communicating with the several tanks, whichopenings are adapted to be closed by lugs 7. The acid water flows fromthe su lfur tower J, or other source of sup ly, to trough H by pipe 8and into one 0? the tanks, the plug 7 closing the entrance to the othertanks of the battery. From the bottom of each of the tanks a pipe Kleads up into a trough L, which runs the length of the battery and hasbranches 9 leading to the several tanks. The corn in tank A will beprevented from entering pipe K by a screen, or in any other manner.Trough L has the slide gates 10 and the branches are provided with slidegates.

ll. The entrances of pipes K to the trough may be closed by plugs 12.The return trough I, returns the steep water from tank G to tank A.

In order to carry off the saturated steep water from the last of thetanks, that is, thetank containing the fresh corn, atrough M isprovided, into which lead pipes 13 extending from the bottom of troughL, the entrances to these )ipes being closed by plugs 14 or other suitale valves.

N i represents conventionally evaporating a paratus of any suitable sortconnected with trough M by a pipe 15.

The several tanks are drained into a trough 0 through pipes 10 leadingfrom the bottom of the tanks, these pipes being )rovided with valves 17,which are closed in each case while the steep water is being,

circulated through the tank in =question. The acid water in trough O ispumped by pump P through pipe 18 to the storage ivhence it is forced bypump R tanks Q, through pipe 19 into the sulfur tower J,

where-the requisite amount of S0 is added.

Water is supplied to the several tanks for of the apparatus, certainpartsthe corn being discharged from.

A trough washing the grain through a pipe S having branch pipes 20leading to the several steep tanks and controlled by valves 21.

In order to keep the acid water at the proper temperature, from 105 to130" Fahrenheit, the tanks Q. are provided with steam coils 22. Ifnecessary, steam may also be injected into pipes K from steam pipes 23.Fresh water may be supplied to tanks Q, through pipe 24.

By means of this apparatus, the process is carried out as follows: Thetanks are filled in succession with corn and acid water. For example,the tanks may be constructed with a capacity of 2000 bushels of corn and12000 gallons of acid water. \Vtien the tanks are thus filled, or thatis such of them as are to be operated together, the addition of acidwater will cause a gradual flow of the acid water through the tanks insuccession, the acid water passing, let us say, from trough H into tankA, the entrances from the trough to the other tanks being closed bytheir plug valves 7 through the corn in tank A, up through pipe K, intotrough L, through the branch trough leading into tank B, and so onthrough all of the,tanks which are to be operated together, the gates11, being opened to admit the act water to the tanks and the gates 10being closed to prevent back flow. Supposing all of the tanks tube inoperation, the steep water will finally flow out of tank G into troughL, and from there into trough M and to the evaporating ap aratus N, theplug 14 associated with tan G being removed, while the correspondingplugs for the other tanks are in place. then it is desired to out any ofthe tanks out of the circulatory system, for instance when tank A is tohe cut out, the opening from trough H into this tank will be closed andthe plug removed from the opening into tank B, corresponding slide gate10 being opened and gate 11 closed. B'y opening valve 17, the acid waterin tank A may be drained out into trough O. This, of course, will becomparatively fresh acid water.- Q and from there through the sulfurtower and back into circulation through the other tanks. During thesteeping rocess the corn takes up a large amount of water, in theexample taken about 4500 gallons of the 12000 originab gallons of theacid water. In order to keep up the supply, it is, therefore, necessaryto add fresh water to the circulatory system to make up this deficie"tiy and for the steep water continually going tothe evaporatingapparatus. After the corn has been drained, it is preferably washed bythe application of fresh water from pipe S. This water drains offthrough the pipe 16 and is pumped into the storage tanks Q. If desired,suitable apparatus may be provided for sending the water several It willhe sent to the storage tanks Ill times throuh the tank before it goes topump P. Tie grain, when washed, may be drawn oil through the dischargepipe 5 into cars or conveyors. Preferably the apparatus is o erated withthree adjacent tanks cut out o the system together. in one of these thecorn is draining, in the next it is being washed and in the third it isbeing drawn off for grinding. When any of the middle tanks are cut out,the treatment of the batches of corn in the different tanks in theirproper order is made possible because of the return trough L.

Those features of my process by which the operation of steeping is madeperfectly continuous, uniform and regular and by means of which thefreshly su plied acid water is being continually brouglit into contactwith the old corn, while the old, highly saturated acid Water iswithdrawn from the fresh corn, so that the acid water will have thegreatest effect upon the corn and will dissolve out a maximum of solublesubstances, is best shown in the diagram of Fig. 4. which represents aninstallation of twenty-four steep tanks lettered z to an inclusive, thearrangement of the tanks being somewhat diflercnt from the simplifiedarrangement of the other fi ures, which was adopted for puroses ofconvenient illustration. The full ine with the arrows indicates thecourse of the steep water which enters the battery at tank m, whichcontains the corn that .has been longest steeping, asses through all ofthe tanks included in the circulatory system and discharges through tanka, which contains the fresh corn, and from there goes to the vacuumpans. This diagram will represent the battery of steeps after it hasbeen in operation some time. Tanks j, I: and Z are cut out. The corn isbeing removed from tank After that has been done, it will be filledwith' fresh corn and connected to tank 6 so as to receive the old steepwater, as indicated by the dotted line, when the tank 7' will dischar eto the evaporating apparatus instead 0 tank '2'. In tank is the grain isbeing washed. This will be the next tank to be connected to the systemfollowing j. In tank Z the corn is being drained. When j has beenrefilled and connected with the system, and whilethe grain front/l: isbeing discharged for'grindin and that in I being washed, the tank m Wlllbe cut out and allowed to drain, and so on throughout the battery. c

I find that good results may be obtained when a battery of twenty-foursteeps, of the capacity described, is so operated that one steep tank iscut out of the battery every hour andfifty minutes. The length of timewhich it is necessary to steep the corn and thestrc ngth of the steepingliquid may be famed in accordance wlth the condition of ,{he corn to besteeped' Likewise the amount of steeping liquid sup lied to the systemper unit of time may )0 varied. This capacity for varying the rate offlow of the liquid through the steeps enables me to obtain "just theright degree of saturation in the steep water as it flows from the lasttank of the series. Obviously it is desirable to have the steep watergoing to the evaporating apparatus as heavy with the soluble substancesof the corn as possible. as the reclamation of such soluble substancesis thus facilitated and made less expensive. 011 the other hand, if thesteeping liquid in the last few tanks is so nearly saturated as not toact. to the fullest extent possible upon the soluble substances in thecorn, the yield of such soluble substances is correspondingly lesscued.By varying the amount of fresh water which is'introduced into thestorage tanks before each successive tank is cut out and the refilledtank added, the degree of saturationof the steep water from the last.steep tank in operation may be controlled to a nicety. Such control isnot a possibility under the old methods of steeping.

In the steps of the starch manufacture, subsequent to the grinding,large quantities of water are used, which, of course, leach optanysoluble matters remainin in the starch. The water used in theseslihscqucnt steps is of such reat volume that though it will contain, aner the old method of steeping, a great deal of valuable matter, it doesnot commercially pay to evaporate the water so as to reclaim suchmatter. By my process ofsteeping, practically all of the solublesubstances are removed from the corn during the first stage of themanufacture, the steeping step, in a heavy solution which can beeconomically evaporated. Moreover, I do away with the separate means forno ducing a circulation in the steep tanks which were necessary by theold methods. Also the continuous circulation through the tanks and fromone tank to another is more easily regulatable and produces moic evensteeping of the grain, than where separate circulation or otheragitations are set up in separate tanks. The grain in each tank issubjected to a great deal more water than is practically possible whenthe tanks are operated singly.

As a result of these improvements u on the method of steeping the cornbe ore grinding, in the process of making starch, I obtain. a steepwater for the evaporating pans as heavily saturated with the solublesubstances of the corn as it is possible to obtain, while, at the sametime, utilizing the steep water to the fullest extent for the softeninof the grain and the extraction of its so uble substances. As a result,the aim is uniformly steeped, the yield of souble substances isincreased, and the handling of the corn and the steep Water materiallyfacilitated. The process may be carried on continuously and may becontrolled to a nicety.

The apparatus shown, it will be seen, provides fior a gravitycirculation of the steep water. through the tanks. The circulationmight, of course, be brought about by pum ing the steep Water from tankto tan Also, iiidesired, the steep water may be allowed to stand in thetanks for a time after they have been filled; or it may be circulatedseveral times through each tank before going on to the next tank. Insuch case the )rocessi would not be a continuous rocess HliLhGSEDSG thatthe flow of the liqui is uninterrupted; but would be continuous in thesense that the batches are successively treated byit-he same body ofsteep water.

Thcprocess has been described as applied to thesteeping of corn in thefirst stage of starch making.

I claim:

1. linthe making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding, which consists in causing the steeping liquid to bepassed,successively and continuouslv through a series of separatelyconfined bodies of the grain, shutting off the steeping liquid from saidbodiesof the grain one after another, while continuing the circulationof the same througlnthe other bodies, and draining and uashing-thebodiesof the grain from which the steeping li uid is shut off.

2. I n=thc nia ing of starch the process of steepingthe grain prior togrinding, which consists in, causing the stee ing liquid to be passedsuccessively and continuously throu h a series of separately confinedbodies of t ie grain shutting off the steeping liquid from saidbodiesone after another, while continuing the circulation of the same throughthe other bodies, draining and washing the bodiespf, the grain fromwhich the steeping liquid, has been shut off, and returning theliquiddrainbd from said bodies to the circu- .tioiniof steepingliquidthrough the other bodies}; H

3. Innthemaking of starclrtlie process of steeping the grain priortogrinding, which consists in causing the steeping liquid to bepassedssuccessively and continuously throu h a series of separatelyconfined bodies of t e grain, shutting off the stee ing liquid from saidbodies singly and in tlie same order of st sgaion, ..while. ,continuinthe. circulation o thc samethrough the ot er. bodies, causing tliiesteeping liquid fromsaid bodies to be assedsuccessively throughpewlyadded l)0( iesofthes-grain, anddmiull gsmd. wast ce wehb y 0 t emie a rhes p liquid-hiisbeeashut ofl' from thesame.

' 4. Inthe making of starch the process of steepiug the grain priortogrinding, whicl consists ineonfining the grain to be steeped in, nbattery of steep tanks, causing the f consists steeping liquid to besupplied continuously to and passed through the units of said battery insuccession, in the same order of succession cutting the units out of thecircula- .tory system so formed in the battery, draining and Washing thegrain, removing the same, refilling the units with new grain andreconnecting them in said battery, and returning the li uid drained tothe circulatory system throng the other units of the battery.

5. In the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding, which consists in confining the grain in a battery of steeptanks, causing a steeping liquid consistin of water and sulfurous acidto be passer through the units of said battery in succession, cuttingthe units out of the circu latory system so formed in the batterysingly, draining and washin the grain in the units cut out of thecircufittory system, and causing the acid water which is drained fromsaid units to be recharged with sulfurous acid and returned to saidcirculatory system.

(3. In the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding, which consists in causin a stee in liquid to be continuouslysupp ied to t e rst of a series of separately confined bodies of grain,withdrawing said liquid continuously from said body andbringing itwithout interruption of the flow into contact with the second body ofsaid series, and so on throughout the series, withdrawing said steepingiquid together with the soluble substances in the I rain in. solutiontherewith from the last ody of said series, and controllin the rate ofsupplyoi' liquid to the materia so asto control the degree of saturationof the steepin liquid withdrawn from the last body 0. said series.

7. In. the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding which consists in confining the grain to be steeped in abattery of steep tanks, causing an acid water to be suppliedcontinuously to, circulated continuously through the units of saidbattery, in succession and withdrawn from the last of said units,cutting the units out of the circulatory system thus formed in the sameorder of succession, draining and washin the grain in the units thus cutout,

and re lling and connecting said units successively to the outlet end ofsaid circulam system, returning the acid water of the draining a dwashing steps tothe circulatory 'systern ihnd maintaining the stein? water in circulation at airelati'vely uniform temperature.

8. In the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding, which in causing an acid Water to flow in a continuous streaminto contact successively with a series of bodies of grain so that itbecomes gradually more heavily charged with the soluble substances ofsaid grain, cutting said bodies in succession out of contact with thestream of acid water and at the same time causing the stream to flowinto contact with acid water is always flowing through a plurality ofsaid bodies, while a plurality of said bodies are always cut out ofcontact with the same.

9. In the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding, which consists in causing an acid water to flow in acontinuous stream into contact successively with a series of bodies ofgrain so that it becomes gradually more heavily charged with the solublesubstances of said grain, cutting said bodies in succession out ofcontact with the stream of acid water and at the same time causing thestream to flow into contact with successive fresh bodies of grain insuch a manner that three of said bodies are always out of contact u iththe stream of acid water, and causing said bodies to drain, to bewashed, to be drawn oil in the order in which they are cut out.

10. In the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding.

which consists in causln a continuous stream of acid water to ow intocontact successivelywvith a series ofbodies of "rain, cutting saidbodies in succession out 0 contact with said stream and at the same timecausing the acid water to be continuously brought into contact withfresh bodies of grain, washin the bodies of grain as they are cut outwith fresh water, removing the liquid from said washin therefrom,recharging it with acid an returnin it to the stream of acid waterflowing through the other bodies.

11. In the making of starch the process of steeping the grain prior togrinding which consists in causing a continuous stream of acid water toflow into contact successively with a series of bodies of rain, cuttinsaid bodies in succession out 0 contact wit 'said stream and at the sametime causing the acid water to be continuously brought into contact withfresh bodies of grain, washing the bodies of grain as they are cut outwith fresh water, removing the liquid from said washing therefrom,recharging, it with acid and returnin it to the stream of acid waterflowing t rough the other bodies, continuously drawing the acid water''charged with the soluble properties of the grain from the last of saidbodies of grain and causing it to be evaporated.

12 In the making of starch, the process of steeping grain prior togrindin which consists in causing the steeping iquid to be passed insuccession through a series of sepsuccessive fresh bodies of gram insuch a manner that the arately confined bodies of the grain, shuttingoff the stee ing liquid from said bodies inthe same or er of successionwhile continuing the treatment of the other bodies, causing the steepingliquid from said bodies to be assed in succession through newly addedodies of the rain, and as the steepin liquid is shut o from each suchbody, a1 owing the steeping liquid therein to drain of! and thereaftercausing fresh water to be passed through said body so as to wash thesame.

13. In the making of starch, the process of steeping grain prior togrindin which consists in causing the steeping iquid to be passed insuccession throu h a series of separately confined bodies 0 the grain,shutting off the stee ing liquid from said bodies in the same or er ofsuccession while continuing the treatment of the other bodies, causingthe steeping liquid from said bodies to be assed in succession throughnewly added bodies of the rain, and as the steeping liquid is shut ofrom each such body, allowing the steeping liquid therein to drain oiland thereafter causing fresh water to be passed through said body so asto wash the same, and introducing the wash water from said body into thesteeping liquid with which the bodies under treatment are being treated.

14. In the making of starch, the process of steeping grain prior togrinding, which consists in causing the steeping liquid consisting ofwater charged with an acid to be passed in succession through a seriesof separately confined bodies of the grain, shutting off the steepinliquid from said bodies in the same order 0 succession while continuingthe treatment of the other bodies, causing the steeping liquid from saidbodies to be assed in succession through newly added bodies of thegrain, and as the steeping liquid is shut off from each such body, alowin the steeping liquid therein to drain off an thereafter causingfresh water to be passed through said body so as to wash the same, andcharging the wash water from such bodies with acid and introducing itinto the steeping liquid with which the bodies under treatment are beingtreated.

15. In the making of starch, the process of steeping grain prior togrinding, which consists in causing the steeping iquid to be passed insuccession throu h a series of. separately confined bodies 0 the grain,shutting off the stee ing liquid from said bodies in the same or er ofsuccession while continuing the treatment of the other bodies, causingthe steeping liquid from said bodles to be assed in succession throughnewly added bodies of the rain, and as the stegp in liquid is shut ofrom each such be y, alFowing the steeping liquid therein to drain offand thereafter causing freshwater to be passed through said body so asto wash the sanie, and heating the steeping liquid at intervals as itpasses through said bodies of rain so as to maintain it at a temperaturerom 105 to 130 Fahrenheit.

16: The process of steeping the grain prior to grinding in themanufacture of starch, which consists in confining the grain in abattery of steep tanks, introducing into the first unit of said batterya dilute solution'of sulfuroh's acid at a temperature of from 105 to 130Fahrenheit, Withdrawing the acid water from the first unit andintroducing it into the second unit, and so on throughout the battery,shutting off the acid; water from the units in succession when the grainhas .been properly steeped, Withdrawing the grain therefrom, refillingthe same with grain and introducing acid Water previously used into suchbodies of fresh grain, and introducing fresh acid water into the unitscontaining the partially steeped grain.

17. The process of steeping grain prior to grinding in the manufactureof starch, which consists in confining the grain in a battery of steeptanks, introducing into the first unit of said battery a dilute solutionof 'sulfurous acid, withdrawing the acid Water from the first unit andintroducing it into the second unit, and so on throughout the battery,shutting oti the acid Water from the units in succession When the grainhas been properly steeped, withdrawing the grain therefrom, refillingthe same with grain and introducing acid water previously used into saidbodies of fresh grain, introducing fresh acid water into the unitscontaining the partially steeped grain, and heating the acid water atintervals as it flows through said battery, so as to maintain it at atem eraturc gtfrom 105 degrees to 130 degrees *ahrexr cit.

18. The process of steeping grain prior to grinding in the manufactureof starch, which consists in confining the grain in a battery of steeptanks, introducing into the first unit of said battery a dilute solutionof sulfurous acid, Withdrawing the acid water from the first unit andintroducing it into the second unit, and so on throughout the battery,shutting oi? the acid water from the units in succession when the grainhas been properly steeped, Withdrawing the grain therefrom, refillingthe same with grain and introducing acid water previously used into saidbodies of fresh grain, introducing fresh acid water into the unitscontaining the partially steeped grain, and injecting steam into theliquid at intervals in its c urse through the battery, so as to maintaini at a temper ature of from 105 degrees to x130 degrees Fahrenheit.

\Vitnesses:

P. H. TRUMAN, H. L. PIECK.

